Rubin Wants Middle Name ‘Peace Activist’

October 18, 2003

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) _ Jerry Rubin, the region’s indefatigable pacifist and former City Council candidate, went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to challenge the city’s refusal to print ``peace activist″ as his occupation on the ballot.

Rubin was recently turned away by the nation’s high court, which refused to hear his appeal _ but he has a new plan.

On Thursday, he filed for a legal name change so that he’ll be known legally as Jerry Peace Activist Rubin. A Superior Court hearing on the request is set for Dec. 11, Rubin’s 60th birthday.

``It’s going to be my birthday present to myself,″ he said Friday.

Rubin has been listed in the local telephone book for years as Jerry Peace Activist Rubin to avoid confusion with the deceased ``Chicago Seven″ defendant Jerry Rubin, who lived in the same area.

The city refused to print the ``peace activist″ designation after Rubin’s name when he unsuccessfully ran for City Council in 2000. City election officials contended the phrase violated state rules that ban misleading occupational descriptions.

Rubin sued in federal court and lost. Then he appealed and lost. In July, he appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which declined two weeks ago to hear the case.